Folding partition.



J. R. NORTON.

FOLDiNG PARTITION.

APPLICATiON FILED GUT-23,1916.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. B. NORTON.

FOLDING PARTITION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1916.

1,266,980., Patented May 21,1918.

3 $HEEISSHEFT 2.

J. R. NORTON.

FOLDING PARIIT ION. {\PPLICATION Fl LED OCT. 2a. 1916.

l,%66} 98, Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEE'I 3.

l I W a no.

Jenn a. non'ron, or omen, new YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE 3'. e. WILSON GQORATION,

' or NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, .a'conronn'rion or vrsemm FOLDING PTITION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. NORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olean, in the State of New York, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Partitions, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates tofolding or Collapsible partitions, andone of the principal objects is to provide a structure of this kind that can bevery compactly stored in its inoperative relation, and at the same time is easily operable.

Afurther and'mportant object is to provide supporting and guiding means for the sections that will easily and readily operate without material danger of binding, said means being very simple and compact.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein v Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the partition-in its extended or operative position.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough, with the parts folded and indicating in dotted lines said parts in different positions. K

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional VIGW'OI} an enlarged scale through one of the sectlons, showing the mounting means therefor.

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, but at right angles thereto.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in elevation of the locking means,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view therethrough. p

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation with one of the face plates removed.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. In the embodiment illustrated. the opening to be closed by the partition is provided with a suitable frame 9, the top of said frame comprising a boxing 10 having an internal guideway 11, a central slot 12 formed in the bottom of the boxing communicatin'g with said guideway. Secured in the fioor directly beneath the guideway, is a track, consisting of spaced tread portions 13 and a central depressed portion 14, forming a groove between the tread portions 13.

The partition consists of a plurality of independent members, two being shown, and

I Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed Dctober 23, 1916. Serial No. 127,200.

each member in turn consists of two panels or sections 16 and 17 of any desired form and construction. The two sections 16 and 17 are hinged together, as shown at 18, but it will be understood that the members composed of these two sections-16 and 17 are independent of each other, so that each can be moved irrespective of the other.

Each section has its own supporting and guiding means, and as these are in each case the same, but one need be described. A socket 19 is formed in the lower end of the section at its center, said socket having its lower portion counterbored, as shown at 20. In this socket is fitted a casing 21 having an enlarged lower portion, forming a f is provided with'spaced'bearing or tread portions 30v that operate on the tread portions 13 of the lower track, andv a peripheral flange 31, located between the bearing portions 30, operates in the groove 14 of said track. It will thus be seen that an extended roller support is produced, while a guide is also provided that efi'ectually prevents the lateral displacement of the section.

For the purpose of directing the upper ends of these sections, each has an upright stem 32 secured thereto and disposed in axial alinement with the lower mounting. This stem is preferably carried by a base plate 33 "seated in a recess formed in the'upper edge of'the section and held in place by fasteners 34. The stem projects through the slot 12 andinto the guideway 11. On this stem is journaled a roller '35 that is located in the slot. Supported by said roller and operating in the guideway 11 is a larger roller 36. This mounting constitutes an efiective support and guide for the upper end of each section.

As before stated, the two members of the I artition are independent of each other, and it will be evident that each can be operated separately from the other so that the partition can be more readily moved to and,

and-the adjacent portions thereof are cut away to produce a doorway 37 formed partially in each section. *Double' swinging doors 38 are carried respectively by the two sections 17 and provide means for closing thisdoorway. It will be seen that the portion cut out of each. section 17 for the purpose of producing the doorway is less than one-half the width of thesection, so as to provide for the lower bearings or mountings.

In order to hold the members .in their alined relation, uprightlocking bolts 39 are" employed, and are mounted in the non-adjacent sections 16 of the members contiguous to the hinge connections between said sections 16 and the sections 17. These bolts are vertically slidable'in the sections and their lower ends are adapted to be moved into and out of the groove14 of the lower track 13, as will be evident by reference to Fig. 7. The upper ends of the bolts are provided with heads 40 having bearing yokes 41 within which are located operating cams 42 carried by shafts 43 that are journaled'in suitable face plates 44 secured to the sections and having recessed seats 48. pon the ends of the shafts 43 are. pivoted suitable actuating devices, shown in the form of rings 49 that are arranged to lie in the recesses 48 flush with the faces of the sections. Preferably the recesses, .as illustrated in Fig. 6, are so arranged that the walls thereof constitute stops for the rings 49 to limit the rotation of the shafts 43 when the bolt has been engaged in. the groove of the track or elevated therefrom. 1

It will be evident that the structure disclosed is relatively simple; that it may be easily operated, as but one member need be moved at a time. The parts moreover are.

compact, so that no undesirable spaces are left around the partition when in its extended position, and when folded, the sections will be flat against eachother.

.From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advanbe apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and'it will be understood that various changes in-the size,

shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or. sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I

Having thus fully describedmy tion, what I claimas new, and deslre to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with upper and lower guides, of a collapsible partition operating between the guides and comprising separate members foldable away from each other,

inveneach member consisting of hingedly connected sections," the sections at the free ends of the members being pivotally and slidably mounted on the guides and arranged to be placed edge to edge in meeting relation, a doorway formed partly in each of the two meeting sections of the members and of less extent than the same, and a holding device carried by one of the sections of each member and disposed adjacent to the hinged connection between the sections of such member and at one side of the doorway for holding the sections against pivotal movement.

- 2. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with upper and lower guides, of a collapsible partition operating between the guides and comprising separate members foldableaway from each other, each member consisting of hingedly connected sections, the sections at the free ends of the members being pivotally and slidably mounted at their upper and lower ends 'on the guides andarran ed tobe placed edge to edge in meeting re ation, a doorway formed partly in each of the two meeting sections of the members, said doorway having its upright sides between the pivotal mountings of said sections and of less width and height than the same, and holding devices carried by the 

